Alessandria del Carretto

The Feast of the Pita di Alessandria del Carretto (Pitë) takes place on the occasion of the feast of the patron saint, Saint Alexander, and represents a true nature rebirth rite, one of the oldest in the Mediterranean: it consists of cutting a 20-metre-high fir tree (pitë, in Alessandria dialect), which is then carried by hand to the town, accompanied by the accordion, bagpipes and popular songs that celebrate it as a symbol of virility and rebirth. The Carnival of Alessandria del Carretto is one of the most important historical carnivals in Calabria. A true ritual, it resorts to an ancient pagan masquerade that evokes the struggle between order and disorder, death and rebirth: this is what the masks of the "beautiful and ugly Polëcënellë" are for.

Immersed in an evocative natural setting, Alessandria del Carretto in the Pollino is one of the most fascinating and mysterious mountain villages. The two aforementioned events are an ideal opportunity to visit the historic centre and some of its landmarks, such as the 17th-century Mother Church of Sant'Alessandro (patron saint) with a valuable portal and bell tower; some noble palaces and more recent buildings, embellished by the series of murals and street art works resulting from the Radicazioni Festival. Flora enthusiasts are advised to visit the Difisella Botanical Garden, where, through a guided tour, it is possible to admire a great variety of officinal herbs typical of the Pollino.